October 24, 2025 • 11 mins
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addresses the media on Friday, October 24, 2025.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Guys, how are you like any rosters?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
No, just one player, Kyle Dugar will be questionable. But
other than that pretty quiet. Did you do a lot
of pre draft work on Jenkins and you know, how
is how do you see him as approach? Well, I
think that the only thing that matters is what we've
seen of him as a pro and uh physical runner,
(00:34):
good vision, runs hard, breaks a lot of tackles and
uh I was really doing a good job for him.
Seem uh disruptive young player, very athletic, very good scheme
fit for them.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
It doesn't stay blocked long.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I mean really really active and just good flexibility, good
athletics ism for for a guy that that size, you know,
I mean there's you know, being that big and being
able to be athletic and move and stay on your feet.
And you know, he does a nice job of not
staying blocked very long.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Had a strong face knowledge.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
But how much of the last year of the Browns
teaching about offensive game?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, I mean I learned. I learned a lot.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
I mean I learned just as far as just different
schemes or different you know, techniques working with Tommy and
you know, Kevin or Chad o'shay about you know, third
downs or you know, everybody's got things that they believe in.
About coaching, I think that's the biggest thing is that
it's what you believe and it's what you can get
the players to believe in. There's a lot of different
ways to do things, a lot of different ways to
(01:47):
run run zone or to have a six man protection
or anything like that. It's just it's having a belief
in something. But then also you know, getting the players
to believe in it. So you know, there were things
that they did that obviously I liked or that was
new for me from an experience of being in Tennessee
or being around different offenses.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
What would you see the core offensive philosophical differences between
the West Coast and what you guys.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Are doing here. Just really focused on Cleveland and differences
of philosophic you know, I mean we run a lot
of different plays everybody. You look around the league and
there's a lot of plays that are similar. They're called
something different, they got different wrinkles to it. But you know,
what I believe in is fundamentals of blocking, tackling, you know,
(02:36):
protecting the quarterback, catching the ball. You know, breaking tackles,
ball security plays or plays.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
It's about the players.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yes, it's very you're just stritting.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Or highlighted kind of Williams just his abilities to kind of.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Learn special tis a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Just what have you seen from him in that area
working as a returners catching ball. He's worked as gunner,
worked as you know, sometimes you get those receivers that
you know have good releases at the line of scrimmage
or have some speed and you know, some balance or
contact courage with guys. You know, that's sometimes a pretty
(03:13):
you know, tough position out there as a gunner or
you like it as a plus fifty and to go
down there. So he's been working some of that and
understanding those details or being a corner on a you know,
he's very willing. You know, that's the thing that's as
long as they're willing, you know, we'll we'll coach them
and teach them. And you know, so Chase was on
(03:34):
a's been as a receiver, been on a kickoff team
for us, and it's done to some of those things.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
So whether it's Chairs or Kyle or any young player,
see if you get has been tested, you know, probably
here the last two three weeks is how please have
you been with that show? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Man, I'm confident in everybody that's at that position to
go in there and be ready to go to execute,
understand and prepare as a starter each and every week.
I think that that's hard to do. You know, maybe
if you haven't had some action or talking about somebody
that's on the practice squad at different positions that we've
had that we've called up. Try to get everybody on
(04:14):
the roster each and every day and Nietschen every week
to prepare as a starter, just knowing that you could
get called up, things could happen, and so that we
try to do that every position.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
What are your pass rush members? In terms of pressure
eight have been a lot better and stared downs than
first and seconds.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Just kind of curious if you have any thoughts on
that discrepancy.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Or why that might be. Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
You, we just have to do a better job of transitioning,
you know, some of the play actions and you know,
recognizing the opportunities to rush and to affect the quarterback.
And you know, we we haven't given up the amount
of explays that we have, but we probably have given
up you know, the quarterbacks probably not held onto the
ball as long, and so you create longer yarded situations
(05:01):
on third down, and sacks can be funny. I mean,
we have, however many we have on offense for like
twenty five yards. You know what I'm saying. We've got
our sack numbers if you just looked at the numbers
aren't great, but the amount of yardage that we've actually
lost because if the quarterback runs out of bounds for
no gain, apparently sometimes it goes down as a sack.
(05:24):
I wish I had more of those twenty years ago,
but I didn't, and so we just have to transition.
We got to get into the pocket and recognize, you know,
those opportunities to rush on first and second down that
are there when when we see that and there's indicators.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
So how did you start with dogs?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
That's brought. I've always enjoyed being around him. His professional
he understands. I think he is good for the quarterback,
good for Drake, good for Tommy, and he's prepared. And
you know we've as much as we've talked about those
practices on Thursday or our red zone and on Friday,
(06:09):
and those are competitive reps for everybody. I think that
those have been great reps for Josh and Tommy to
get during the season.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
So I think that that's helped.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You know, you just don't get a whole lot of reps,
and so you have to use those as your preparation
reps and your game reps to read it out. And
you know, that's why we're not highlighting somebody and like
say throw the ball here. It's like throw to the
ball the guy that's open and play quarterback. And we
don't want to practice like that and say this is
what they're going to do.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
We don't know what they're going to do.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So I think those reps that he has in practice
really help them. And again, it''s good to see that
he was prepared last week to go in and execute
and help us.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
We've asked you a lot about Drake sliding and protecting himself,
but how do you feel like he's developed in terms
of how new.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Books and he is comfort in the pocket.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Knowing when to leave when he has little take that time.
At this point this.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Season, I think it's improved. I think there sometimes maybe
a few weeks ago that he probably took off and
didn't need to. I think that we've worked on it.
I think that was some of the drills that I
saw Ashton working on with him. Probably don't want to
(07:22):
sit there and wait it out a whole lot this week.
This should probably not be a week to try that.
I would probably go one two and I'd probably look
for an exit strgedy with based on the.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Browns and their defense and the way they rush, So.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Just have to be I think conscious and again not
staring at the rush, but just having an internal clock
and knowing that you don't want to leave a clean pocket,
and if it looks dirty, then I'm going to trust
his judgment if it's somebody's flashing in there to extend
and be smart with the football.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
It seems like there's been a lot of passers situations
where you guys are sending forward offenses or keeping guys
in shipping and things like that. Are there ways around
you where you can still affect the quarterback or are
you just kind of trusting your coverage from situations?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, I think that you have to kind of trust
what you've called. And again, if you live in the
world of man, then you can sit there and you know,
hug and add on against bigger people, which we've done
at times, and yeah, you know, again just trying not
to give up big plays, and I think that sacks
(08:26):
come in bunches. We have to do a better job
of effecting a quarterback. I'm not gonna say that we
need a certain amount of sacks. I think we need
to when they throw checkdowns be ready to come up
and tackle so that checkdowns aren't eight yard gains. Much
like that series that we referenced the other day, it
was second and whatever it was, Spelane makes a good
(08:48):
bang bang tackle coming out of his own coverage, makes
it third and one. We do a good job on
a coverage on a short yardage and then we get
a sack. So you know, it kind of just is
all going into letting each other help. And when the
ball gets out quickly and we are in zone coverage
that we're trusting, you know, the quarterback looking and the
(09:11):
quarterback read. What we can't have is the quarterback looking
over here patting it coming back over here.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That that system that can't work.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
So you know, that would be one where we would
if we start to see that, then we have issues
with basically marrying the.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Rush and the coverage up.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
If the quarterback could sit there, stare it down, pump it,
come back and do something over there. Mike.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Mike, you talk about like prepare every clarity would be
a starter, But do you also emphasized like keep improving
the roster. Just wondering like as the trick line of approach,
how do you balance keep improving the roster versus excoring
like external options.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Well, we'll always continue to try to do that.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I would say that the players that are here, we
ask to prepare as a starter mentally so that they're
ready to go and they're not just checked out and
they're not just reading a card and that you you know,
I mean again, our coaches will watch, they'll have breakfast
with those guys in the morning, our young coaches is
a great opportunity for them on Saturday morning to tell
(10:13):
those guys, hey, front seven. You know, Milt and Benny
will be in there watching their defensive snaps from the week,
grab some breakfasts, come in, have a little meeting before
they work out. Same as on offense, whether that's Koug's
or Riley or Chucky. To be able to get those
players in there so that they feel like there's feedback
(10:35):
and there's and they're getting coached the same way that
anybody else would. And then as far as the roster,
any opportunities that we have to improve it, whether that's
the practice squad or the fifty three man roster.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Will we'll probably always try to do that. You're a
no idle guy. Did you grow up last course?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, I mean you don't grow up in northeast Ohio
and not be a brown standing you know, I have
no necklaces that are made of dog biscuits.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
I mean, of course I didn't, you know what I mean?
And so I lived that in Bernie Coz. All right.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So, and again I've said this a lot, but I appreciate,
appreciate the Hasl family, Jimmy and d Andrew Kevin. That
that staff, I mean, that was a you know, that
was a good experience for me. It was probably the
place where I was supposed to be last year. Allowed
me to, you know, kind of reconnect with a lot
of different things as far as whether that's being background
(11:28):
home and seeing old friends and going to high school
football games, or spending more time with people that you
don't really spend a lot of time with during the season.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So thank you
Guys, how are you like any rosters?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
No, just one player, Kyle Dugar will be questionable. But
other than that pretty quiet. Did you do a lot
of pre draft work on Jenkins and you know, how
is how do you see him as approach? Well, I
think that the only thing that matters is what we've
seen of him as a pro and uh physical runner,
(00:34):
good vision, runs hard, breaks a lot of tackles and
uh I was really doing a good job for him.
Seem uh disruptive young player, very athletic, very good scheme
fit for them.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
It doesn't stay blocked long.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I mean really really active and just good flexibility, good
athletics ism for for a guy that that size, you know,
I mean there's you know, being that big and being
able to be athletic and move and stay on your feet.
And you know, he does a nice job of not
staying blocked very long.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Had a strong face knowledge.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
But how much of the last year of the Browns
teaching about offensive game?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, I mean I learned. I learned a lot.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
I mean I learned just as far as just different
schemes or different you know, techniques working with Tommy and
you know, Kevin or Chad o'shay about you know, third
downs or you know, everybody's got things that they believe in.
About coaching, I think that's the biggest thing is that
it's what you believe and it's what you can get
the players to believe in. There's a lot of different
ways to do things, a lot of different ways to
(01:47):
run run zone or to have a six man protection
or anything like that. It's just it's having a belief
in something. But then also you know, getting the players
to believe in it. So you know, there were things
that they did that obviously I liked or that was
new for me from an experience of being in Tennessee
or being around different offenses.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
What would you see the core offensive philosophical differences between
the West Coast and what you guys.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Are doing here. Just really focused on Cleveland and differences
of philosophic you know, I mean we run a lot
of different plays everybody. You look around the league and
there's a lot of plays that are similar. They're called
something different, they got different wrinkles to it. But you know,
what I believe in is fundamentals of blocking, tackling, you know,
(02:36):
protecting the quarterback, catching the ball. You know, breaking tackles,
ball security plays or plays.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
It's about the players.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yes, it's very you're just stritting.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Or highlighted kind of Williams just his abilities to kind of.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Learn special tis a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Just what have you seen from him in that area
working as a returners catching ball. He's worked as gunner,
worked as you know, sometimes you get those receivers that
you know have good releases at the line of scrimmage
or have some speed and you know, some balance or
contact courage with guys. You know, that's sometimes a pretty
(03:13):
you know, tough position out there as a gunner or
you like it as a plus fifty and to go
down there. So he's been working some of that and
understanding those details or being a corner on a you know,
he's very willing. You know, that's the thing that's as
long as they're willing, you know, we'll we'll coach them
and teach them. And you know, so Chase was on
(03:34):
a's been as a receiver, been on a kickoff team
for us, and it's done to some of those things.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
So whether it's Chairs or Kyle or any young player,
see if you get has been tested, you know, probably
here the last two three weeks is how please have
you been with that show? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Man, I'm confident in everybody that's at that position to
go in there and be ready to go to execute,
understand and prepare as a starter each and every week.
I think that that's hard to do. You know, maybe
if you haven't had some action or talking about somebody
that's on the practice squad at different positions that we've
had that we've called up. Try to get everybody on
(04:14):
the roster each and every day and Nietschen every week
to prepare as a starter, just knowing that you could
get called up, things could happen, and so that we
try to do that every position.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
What are your pass rush members? In terms of pressure
eight have been a lot better and stared downs than
first and seconds.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Just kind of curious if you have any thoughts on
that discrepancy.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Or why that might be. Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
You, we just have to do a better job of transitioning,
you know, some of the play actions and you know,
recognizing the opportunities to rush and to affect the quarterback.
And you know, we we haven't given up the amount
of explays that we have, but we probably have given
up you know, the quarterbacks probably not held onto the
ball as long, and so you create longer yarded situations
(05:01):
on third down, and sacks can be funny. I mean,
we have, however many we have on offense for like
twenty five yards. You know what I'm saying. We've got
our sack numbers if you just looked at the numbers
aren't great, but the amount of yardage that we've actually
lost because if the quarterback runs out of bounds for
no gain, apparently sometimes it goes down as a sack.
(05:24):
I wish I had more of those twenty years ago,
but I didn't, and so we just have to transition.
We got to get into the pocket and recognize, you know,
those opportunities to rush on first and second down that
are there when when we see that and there's indicators.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
So how did you start with dogs?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
That's brought. I've always enjoyed being around him. His professional
he understands. I think he is good for the quarterback,
good for Drake, good for Tommy, and he's prepared. And
you know we've as much as we've talked about those
practices on Thursday or our red zone and on Friday,
(06:09):
and those are competitive reps for everybody. I think that
those have been great reps for Josh and Tommy to
get during the season.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
So I think that that's helped.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
You know, you just don't get a whole lot of reps,
and so you have to use those as your preparation
reps and your game reps to read it out. And
you know, that's why we're not highlighting somebody and like
say throw the ball here. It's like throw to the
ball the guy that's open and play quarterback. And we
don't want to practice like that and say this is
what they're going to do.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
We don't know what they're going to do.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
So I think those reps that he has in practice
really help them. And again, it''s good to see that
he was prepared last week to go in and execute
and help us.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
We've asked you a lot about Drake sliding and protecting himself,
but how do you feel like he's developed in terms
of how new.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Books and he is comfort in the pocket.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Knowing when to leave when he has little take that time.
At this point this.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Season, I think it's improved. I think there sometimes maybe
a few weeks ago that he probably took off and
didn't need to. I think that we've worked on it.
I think that was some of the drills that I
saw Ashton working on with him. Probably don't want to
(07:22):
sit there and wait it out a whole lot this week.
This should probably not be a week to try that.
I would probably go one two and I'd probably look
for an exit strgedy with based on the.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Browns and their defense and the way they rush, So.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Just have to be I think conscious and again not
staring at the rush, but just having an internal clock
and knowing that you don't want to leave a clean pocket,
and if it looks dirty, then I'm going to trust
his judgment if it's somebody's flashing in there to extend
and be smart with the football.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
It seems like there's been a lot of passers situations
where you guys are sending forward offenses or keeping guys
in shipping and things like that. Are there ways around
you where you can still affect the quarterback or are
you just kind of trusting your coverage from situations?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, I think that you have to kind of trust
what you've called. And again, if you live in the
world of man, then you can sit there and you know,
hug and add on against bigger people, which we've done
at times, and yeah, you know, again just trying not
to give up big plays, and I think that sacks
(08:26):
come in bunches. We have to do a better job
of effecting a quarterback. I'm not gonna say that we
need a certain amount of sacks. I think we need
to when they throw checkdowns be ready to come up
and tackle so that checkdowns aren't eight yard gains. Much
like that series that we referenced the other day, it
was second and whatever it was, Spelane makes a good
(08:48):
bang bang tackle coming out of his own coverage, makes
it third and one. We do a good job on
a coverage on a short yardage and then we get
a sack. So you know, it kind of just is
all going into letting each other help. And when the
ball gets out quickly and we are in zone coverage
that we're trusting, you know, the quarterback looking and the
(09:11):
quarterback read. What we can't have is the quarterback looking
over here patting it coming back over here.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That that system that can't work.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
So you know, that would be one where we would
if we start to see that, then we have issues
with basically marrying the.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Rush and the coverage up.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
If the quarterback could sit there, stare it down, pump it,
come back and do something over there. Mike.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Mike, you talk about like prepare every clarity would be
a starter, But do you also emphasized like keep improving
the roster. Just wondering like as the trick line of approach,
how do you balance keep improving the roster versus excoring
like external options.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Well, we'll always continue to try to do that.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I would say that the players that are here, we
ask to prepare as a starter mentally so that they're
ready to go and they're not just checked out and
they're not just reading a card and that you you know,
I mean again, our coaches will watch, they'll have breakfast
with those guys in the morning, our young coaches is
a great opportunity for them on Saturday morning to tell
(10:13):
those guys, hey, front seven. You know, Milt and Benny
will be in there watching their defensive snaps from the week,
grab some breakfasts, come in, have a little meeting before
they work out. Same as on offense, whether that's Koug's
or Riley or Chucky. To be able to get those
players in there so that they feel like there's feedback
(10:35):
and there's and they're getting coached the same way that
anybody else would. And then as far as the roster,
any opportunities that we have to improve it, whether that's
the practice squad or the fifty three man roster.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Will we'll probably always try to do that. You're a
no idle guy. Did you grow up last course?
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yeah, I mean you don't grow up in northeast Ohio
and not be a brown standing you know, I have
no necklaces that are made of dog biscuits.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
I mean, of course I didn't, you know what I mean?
And so I lived that in Bernie Coz. All right.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So, and again I've said this a lot, but I appreciate,
appreciate the Hasl family, Jimmy and d Andrew Kevin. That
that staff, I mean, that was a you know, that
was a good experience for me. It was probably the
place where I was supposed to be last year. Allowed
me to, you know, kind of reconnect with a lot
of different things as far as whether that's being background
(11:28):
home and seeing old friends and going to high school
football games, or spending more time with people that you
don't really spend a lot of time with during the season.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
So thank you
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.